Chancellor Rishi Sunak rejects claims firms were told to favour England over Scotland with PPE provision

The Chancellor has rejected claims PPE firms were told to favour England over other parts of UK

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Public Health England's Yvonne Doyle rejected claims that firms had been told to restrict supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to other parts of the United Kingdom in favour of England.

Mr Sunak said: "There's no truth in those stories, that those companies had been told to prioritise PPE equipment.

The Chancellor has rejected the claims.

"Rather, the contrary is actually happening... there has been incredibly close collaboration between our four nations in this regard."

Professor Doyle said: "Public Health England has not, in any sense, directed any of the devolved administrations to be at any disadvantage.

"We work really closely together."

Earlier, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had warned it would “unconscionable and unacceptable” if protective equipment for frontline care staff is being prioritised for England over Scotland.

Adding that if it were the case, it would increase pressure on Scotland’s national stockpile and would be a “source of real worry”.